Not your typical CAI question.

Will someone please explain the difference between the two products below.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SPE-9900/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TF...2/?image=large

Here we have almost identical systems, one of course having a plastic tube and the other having an aluminum one. Why is there a $90 dollar difference between them? Ultimately I would think of the plastic being the cheaper of the two, not as attractive and just the material in general. Is there any difference in the filter material? I can't imagine it being that significant.

In any case, the sole purpose of any cold air intake is to obviously bring in colder air, however, many intakes due to the open filter area can let some hot engine bay air sneak by. So, comparing to a drop-in K&N filter in the stock box, sealed from engine heat and sucking cold air from down below, how does the after market cai benefit? Besides the fact that the airflow is somewhat less restricted in the actual tube vs. the stock goofy set up. In reality the only thing slowing down the air is the filter. Unless the filter is clogged or the tube is blocked up, the engine is getting as much air as it needs, when dealing with a truck/car that only has a cat back exhaust and maybe a programmer.

One last thing. Aluminum vs. plastic.
Another thought went across my brain regarding the material used for the actual tubes. The stock tube is plastic and I would assume GM along with just about every other car MFG chose this material for a reason, whether its purpose is solely just cost effectiveness or the fact that it actually is a better material for the application. Does plastic resist heat better than aluminum? Basically, if the outside of the tube is hot, the inside should generally be just as hot, if not close, which in turn the air passing through the tube will generally warm up as well, turning your CAI into a HAI. So at last, which one resists heat transfer the most?

I'm not a physicist by any means and maybe I'm just thinking about it a little too hard, but I just like to research every single thing about a product before i purchase, especially if its not going to be beneficial. If all its going to do is give me that "intake sound", and no real gain, other than looks, why spend the money?

 

Plastic won't soak up the heat. The second one looks like its seals against the hood.

 

as far as heat goes . . . plastic is better . . . or just use some exhaust wrap, and wrap up the aluminum pipe.

Both are still going to allow air from the hot engine bay to get in.

If you're looking for a true cold air kit, then look at a sealed box like Volant